'Philippines provoked China'

It was the Philippines that provoked China, intentionally or unintentionally, that triggered the current standoff at the Scarborough Shoal, a local think tank said on Wednesday.

Ricardo Saludo, managing director at the Center for Strategy, Enterprise and Intelligence (CENSEI), said that one of the Philippines' actions that could have triggered the standoff was its proposal to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to present a united front against China's claim over the Spratly Group of Islands, a disputed territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

"We looked at the two immediate reasons why there is a standoff at Scarborough Shoal. At the ASEAN summit nagharap ng proposal ang Philippines na magkaisang consensus bago humarap sa China at mukhang tinanggap ng ASEAN... ngayon hindi lang isa-isa ang kakauspin ngayon pero buong ASEAN," Saludo told a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City.

Aside from the Philippines and China, several nations including Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Saludo, a former secretary of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Cabinet, said that China became jittery when the Philippines staged a military exercise with the United States in Palawan.

"Itong dalawang rason ang nagbunsod at ang standoff sa Scarborough Shoal," he added.

Saludo, meanwhile, said that his group believes China will not give up its claim over the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea.

"Hindi aatras ang China... Mga papasok na liderato hindi aatras 'yan dahil ang legitimacy nila ay base sa prosperidad ng ekonomiya ng Tsina so kahit ang partido nagkakaroon ng bahagyang problema, kaya partido mismo ang China hindi aatras sa Scarborough Shoal," he said.

He added that China is looking at the West Philippine Sea as a potential source of energy in the future.

"Nakikita nilang magiging malaki ang pangangailangan ng China ng energy at ang South China Sea ang pagkukunan nyan... Ang energy consumption nila ang pinakamalaki sa buong mundo," Saludo said.

He, however, believes that despite its strong stance in the disputed sea, China will not start a war with the other claimant-countries as it would avoid being pictured as a bully in the international community. (Video by Katherine Manalo)